Latest Content
Education
Public Schools Increased Spending to $23,000 Per Student, Ballooned Reserves While Enrollment Declined
Harrisburg, Pa., May 15, 2025 — Pennsylvania school districts increased overall revenue collected in 2023–24 to $23,000 per student, while expanding general fund reserves to $7.4 billion, according to new…
Read More: Public Schools Increased Spending to $23,000 Per Student, Ballooned Reserves While Enrollment Declined
Energy
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Read More: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Education
Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Read More: Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
School Spending Data
The NCES released a report today titled An Historical Overview of Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education, by State: Fiscal Years 1990–2002. The full report is…
Media
Read More: School Spending Data
Taking Oil Profits
If Governor Rendell is looking for another way to take more of oil companies’ profits, maybe he should look to Hugo Chavez, who announced the Venezuelan government would be…
Media
Read More: Taking Oil Profits
Show on the Road
Robert Poole of the Reason Foundation in today’s Wall Street Journal on the potential of public-private toll roads to revilatize our highway system.
Media
Read More: Show on the Road
Welfare state growing
Associated Press story on the growth of Welfare rolls. While TANF cash grants have declined nationally under welfare reform, Medicaid and other programs have grown. Today, one in six…
Media
Read More: Welfare state growing
RomneyCare on Life Support
The Massachusetts healthcare mandates – dubbed RomneyCare after former Governor Mitt Romney – was supposed to ensure universal health insurance for all, save money on “uncompensated care,” and keep the…
Media
Read More: RomneyCare on Life Support
Private vs. Gov’t Response to Crisis
The News of Delaware County editorial poses an interesting question: “Would corporate America have handled last week’s Interstate 78 disaster any worse or better than Pennsylvania government officials?”…
Media
Read More: Private vs. Gov’t Response to Crisis
No reform of incumbent protection ads
Article on the Reform Panel’s debate on taxpayer-funded “Public Service Ads” (a.k.a. incumbent protection plans), from Capitolwire.com (subscription): Even after a former House majority leader blasted taxpayer-paid TV…
Media
Read More: No reform of incumbent protection ads
Insurance mandates aren’t the answer
Greg Scandlen in Health Care News writes that health insurance mandates won’t solve the problem of uninsured. I also pointed out in that article that part of…
Media
Read More: Insurance mandates aren’t the answer
Non-Union Jobs
Steve Jobs takes on the teachers unions, from WSJ.com.
Media
Read More: Non-Union Jobs
The Philadelphia Story
Paul Peterson in today’s Wall Street Journal on the success of privately-managed public schools in Philadelphia.
Media
Read More: The Philadelphia Story
Bonuses bump pensions
Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times reporter Alison Hawkes reveals that the bonus to legislative staffers has an impact on pension payouts! As Tim Potts is quoted as saying…
Media
Read More: Bonuses bump pensions
Size of staff salaries surprise, but disclosing them is the important thing
Morning Call editorial on the legislative staff salaries… The question isn’t so much whether these staffers earn their pay as itis who decides, and what the decisions…
Media
Read More: Size of staff salaries surprise, but disclosing them is the important thing
Liquor system ripe for privatizing
Patriot News Editorial calls for privatizing of state liquor stores: “In proposing the turnpike lease, the governor has called the 537-mile highway an invaluable asset whose full value…
Media
Read More: Liquor system ripe for privatizing
CEO Rankings of States
Chief Executive Magazine released its survey of CEOs, which ranks the 50 states (and DC) in terms of business friendliness. Pennsylvania ranks a dreary 37th (down ten spots from…
Media
Read More: CEO Rankings of States
Vince & Anchorwomen
Another reason to privatize the turnpike: to derail Vince Fumo’s efforts to use the Turnpike Commission to hook up with attractive Philadelphia news anchorwomen. From the Philadelphia Daily News:…
Media
Read More: Vince & Anchorwomen
Some staffers earning fatter salaries than lawmakers : The Morning Call Online
Morning Call article on the pay of PA House Staffers. Get the list of highest paid staffers from the Morning Call here.
Media
Read More: Some staffers earning fatter salaries than lawmakers : The Morning Call Online
$650/Month For Cars Goes To Part-Time Gaming Board Members
Ben Simmoneau of WGAL uncovers more of the luxuries of state government work, this time by the Gaming Control Board members. Doug Harbach tries to defend the perks saying,…
Media
Read More: $650/Month For Cars Goes To Part-Time Gaming Board Members
Britney Joins the Head Shavers Club
While the media is questioning what could motivate Britney Spears to shave her head, the answer is quite clear–she is gunning for a job with the Commonwealth Foundation.
Media
Read More: Britney Joins the Head Shavers Club
Does the U.S. Spend More?
A new report from McKinsey claims that the United States spends $477billion a year – $1,645 per person – more on health care than otherOECD countries do, after…
Media
Read More: Does the U.S. Spend More?
Companies’ Fair Share: Zero Percent
Andrew Chamberlain editorial on why progressive corporate tax rates are “unfair”– taxes on corporations are just taxes on people.
Media
Read More: Companies’ Fair Share: Zero Percent
Priceless politics
Thomas Sowell wonders why local governments feel they need to own and operate golf courses under the mantra of “helping the poor”: “Are the taxpayers being asked to support…
Media
Read More: Priceless politics